Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $600,000 In Funding To Support Long Island’s LGBT Survivors Of Rape And Domestic Violence

Funding Will Be Used to Provide Support and Legal Services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Survivors of Violence

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $600,000 in federal funding for The Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth, Inc. (LIGALY). The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office on Violence Against Women and will be used to enhance support services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) survivors of domestic and sexual violence. LIGALY plans to build a national network of more than 190 centers that provide LGBT survivors with resources and support.

“This funding is absolutely critical to help victims of domestic violence and rape in the LGBT community,” said Senator Schumer. “Survivors of these tragic, life-endangering situations don’t just need a place to stay, they need comprehensive services and support to help get them back on their feet and move forward with confidence. LIGALY does terrific work and this federal funding will help the organization provide support and legal services to LGBT survivors of domestic and sexual violence.”

"We have to do more to protect all survivors of sexual and domestic violence and offer the help needed to put their lives back together," said Senator Gillibrand. “This funding is critically important because it will help enhance programs and services for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender survivors. The training and program development that LIGALY will provide will help more survivors get the inclusive support and resources they need to seek justice.”

"Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence is a growing and mostly unrecognized issue in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community. The grant from OVW will enable Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth (LIGALY) to lead a national movement to build the capacity of over 190 LGBT Centers and other OVW grantees to provide these critical services for GLBT victims of domestic violence. LIGALY's national partners at the Resource Center in Dallas, the LA LGBT Center and Centerlink will bring together Centers and DV providers from across the country to build competent and accessible services to thousands of GLBT people," said Dr. David Kilmnick, LIGALY's Chief Executive Officer.

The Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth, Inc. will use this funding to provide technical assistance and training for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Centers and will partner with other organizations that have received DOJ Office on Violence Against Women grants to provide survivors of domestic and sexual violence with specialized support services. LIGALY plans to develop enhanced programs and properly train staff at partner organizations, so that more LGBT survivors are able to get the appropriate care and support services they need.

The grant program was authorized in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) of 2013 to develop and implement outreach strategies targeted at adult and youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking in underserved populations; and to provide victim services to meet the needs of such populations.